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By Ray Hickson

Every winner counts when you’re an apprentice and Lee Magorrian knows that’s a fact.

Magorrian admits it took him a lot longer to break through in Sydney than he anticipated when he arrived at the start of last summer.

The 23-year-old endured a drought of almost six months before Pianissimo handed him that maiden Australian win at Warwick Farm in April and it was a boost he needed.

“I’m in a pretty good mindset now, things are falling into place nicely and I’m starting to get on a bit of a roll,’’ the Irish-born Kiwi jockey said.

“Soon the big boys will be heading off to Melbourne so some opportunities should present themselves.’’

Fortensky winning at Canterbury - September 13

Magorrian has just the one opportunity at Rosehill on Wednesday as he partners the in-form Fortensky in the TAB Handicap (1500m) and he wants to make it count.

The Chris Waller-trained four-year-old was a last start winner at Canterbury with Magorrian in the saddle and he sees no reason why the gelding won’t be competitive again.

“He’s in a great vein of form, a model of consistency and he’s put together two nice runs for me,’’ Magorrian said.

“I’ll go forward and he should be a good chance.

"He jumped from a wide alley last start and got across them, we slowed the pace around the 1100m and got away with some pretty nice sectionals

“The only thing is I hope he gets away cleanly. He’s going to be standing in the gates a little longer than he normally does.

“He gets a little antsy in the gates - not badly - he just seems to put his mind elsewhere.’’

Magorrian came to the Chris Waller stable late last year on the same two-week scholarship that introduced Jason Collett and Rory Hutchings to Sydney in previous years.

He has extended his stay in Sydney through to the end of June and while talk of an apprentices premiership isn’t on the radar he does have an immediate goal.

By the end of the year he’d like to have lost his 3kg city claim and to do that he needs another seven city winners. With a carnival on interstate drawing the senior riders away he feels that’s a realistic aim.

“The Waller team has been great to me really. They’ve been giving me every chance to get out there and present myself well,’’ he said.

“I think I’ve improved and you improve with the more confidence you get in this game.

“Chris rang me after I won on Isorich at Randwick (Lee's first Saturday city winner) and said ‘you’re going well and things are falling into place for you’ so I hope things keep going.’’

All the fields, form and replays at Rosehill Gardens on Wednesday